Memorial
Patricia “Pat” Ann Campbell, 90, of Cedar Rapids, finally had her prayers answered when she was called to be with her heavenly father on Friday, June 19, while in her own home.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 9, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, with a visitation from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and a luncheon following the service.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Mercy Foundation (Hospice.)
Pat was born June 1, 1936 in Vinton, Iowa, the daughter of Bernard “Mike” and Freida (Seboldt) Garbers. She was raised on the family farm southwest of Garrison. She was baptized into the Christian faith at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Van Horne and later confirmed. She began playing the church organ at St. Andrews at the age of 14, and she was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, having held memberships at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Garrison, and Bethany, Concordia and Trinity Lutheran Churches in Cedar Rapids. She graduated from Garrison High School in 1954, where she was a starting guard on the Rockets basketball team.
On June 23, 1956, Pat married the love of her life, Charles “Chuck” Campbell at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Van Horne. God blessed them with nearly 69 wonderful years of marriage, and three children. She was the apple of Chuck’s eye, and the two were inseparable. They could often be seen walking hand-in-hand along the streets of Cedar Rapids or the beaches of Gulf Shores, and for many years they were breakfast regulars at Nick’s Bar, where they enjoyed time with many friends. Pat and Chuck loved a good game of cards, including Bridge (early in their marriage), Pinochle, Canasta, 500, Euchre and Sheepshead. They were avid and proud fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs.
For more than 60 years they were faithful “every Sunday” members at Trinity Lutheran Church, where Pat was active in the Home Missionary League. Lutheran education was important to Pat, and she felt blessed that all three of her children attended Trinity Lutheran School from kindergarten through eighth grade, and all five of her grandchildren graduated from Lutheran elementary schools.
Known as Pat, Patsy, Aunt Patsy, Mom, grams, grandma, great-grandma and “Patricia” (on the rare occasion Chuck would disagree with her), she will always be remembered as a loving, caring and Christian example to many. Nothing was more important than her faith in God, but her love of family was a close second. Growing up, and even as an adult, Pat treasured her time with uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews on both the Garbers and Seboldt sides of the family, as well as the Campbell clan. In fact, at the time of her death, her cousin, Dr. Robert Good, considered her “the matriarch” as the oldest living member of the Garbers family.
Pat was a loving mother to Scott, Lori and Kirk. She never missed one of their sporting events or school activities and was quick to plan long family vacations to Disneyland, Texas, Canada and all places in between. Her five grandchildren, and one great-grand-daughter, were her pride and joy, and she and Chuck were their biggest fans and cheerleaders, rarely missing an event. She lived for the times they could spend the night, play cards, and host backyard Olympics.
Above all, and most importantly, Pat had a deep love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she was definitely a stubborn German Lutheran. Even though her mind and memory diminished in her final months, she still tried to mouth the words to “The Lord’s Prayer.” Ever since Chuck died on March 16, 2025, Pat’s fervent prayer was to “be called home” and “be with Chuck and Jesus in heaven.” We take comfort that those prayers have been answered.
Left to honor her memory are sons, Scott (Beth) Campbell, Eldridge, and Kirk, Cedar Rapids; daughter Lori (Jeff) Donald, Cedar Rapids. Grandchildren: Chelsea (Jeff) Faine, Denver, Co.; Addie (Mark) Akin, St. Louis, Mo.; Jordan (Cody Fisher) Donald, Oklahoma City; Devon (Jenna) Campbell, Cedar Rapids, and Jake (Carolyn Simon) Donald, Chicago. Great-granddaughter: Selah Akin. Brother-in-law: Jack, Stevens Point, Wis.; Sisters-in-laws: Marcia Relf, Vinton, and Lois Purdy, Oelwein, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins